Chinese President Xi Jinping has congratulated Emmerson Mnangagwa on his election as president of Zimbabwe in last week’s landmark poll, offering his country’s support.
Mnangagwa was declared winner of the election with 50.8 percent of the vote while main opposition challenger Nelson Chamisa received 44.3 percent.
Chamisa however rejected the result, saying they had been doctored to favour Mnangagwa.
He is yet to announce whether he will challenge the election in court.
The election was the first since Zimbabwe’s independence that Robert Mugabe did not participate in, having ruled the country since it gained independence in 1980 until November 2017.
Chines President Xi Jinping expects Mnangagwa in Beijing next month for the 2018 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
Xi has expressed hope that the meeting with Mnangagwa can push forward the strategic partnership of cooperation between the two countries.
September’s visit to Beijing by Mnangagwa will be his second this year after he held talks with Xi in April.
